How ITB Berlin Becomes the World's Leading Travel Trade Show

ITB Berlin was founded in 1966, at the beginning, there was only 9 exhibitors from 5 countries with 250 spectators attending the trade show.However, today,ITB Berlin will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. Covering an area of 150,000 square meters, 10,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries, 170,000 professional exhibitors, buyers, and spectators will take part in the show. According to statistics, in 2015, the amount of business transaction through ITB Berlin almost reached 7 billion euros.

In September 1966, the first trade show was held in West Berlin, 9 exhibitors from Egypt, Brazil, the Federal Republic of Germany, Guinea and Iraq attended the show.

In the coming years, the impact of ITB Berlin had grown, and in 1973,almost all European countries came to join the activity.

In 1982, ITB Berlin organized a conversation between tourism agencies and customers for the first time.Four years later, the Terra-Cotta Warriors were displayed on the event.

In 1989, the unification of Germany and influx of tourists from former East Germany provided a great stimulus for the development of ITB Berlin.

In 2010, the LGBT travel was mentioned at the convention, with the help of themed exhibition hall, the topic was later known and discussed by the public.

In 2011, the world's largest Internet travel technology exhibition was on display in ITB Berlin which had become a regular practice since then.

In 2012, ITB Berlin invited the international blogger group.

In 2014, ITB Berlin initiated the establishment of data base and brought up the conception of "Data Protection" & "Luxury Tourism". The "CityCube Berlin" was put to use in the same year.

In 2015, the transaction amount exceeded 6.7 billion euros, more than 91% of the exhibitors expressed their satisfaction toward the show, 89.8% of the exhibitors expressed willingness to recommend the show to peers,92.7% of the exhibitors intended to continue participating, all of which proved the show is the place where supply meets demand.Among the 170,000 participants, there were more than 110,000 professional buyers, the amount of overseas buyers had increased by 43%. Also,10,000 exhibitors coming from 186 countries participated in the activity as well, of which more than two-thirds of the exhibitors came from outside Germany.